RAW RECAP: Summerslam main event set; RVD vs. Y2J

We see the Raw opening video, and go live into the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

We hear a drum roll and then see Brad Maddox on the stage. He begins walking to the ring as the crowd boos him. He says this is the beginning of the Maddox Era. He says we will see Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler tonight, and he says he is determined to be the greatest General Manager of all time before John Cena’s music hits and the WWE Champion comes to the ring. Cena says this is the only time in the Maddox Era that the person in the ring with Maddox will be more hated than him. Cena says Maddox may just be an okay GM, and Maddox says he is glad Cena came out here. Maddox says he has always admired Cena, ever since he was a teenager. Maddox says he is going to allow Cena to hand-pick his opponent for SummerSlam. The crowd chants “YES! YES! YES!”, and Cena questions Maddox. Cena says he could choose Doc Hendrix, Dutch Mantel, Michael Cole, or one of the Bella Twins. Randy Orton’s music hits and Mr. Money in the Bank makes his way to the ring. Orton tells Maddox that he shouldn’t get too far ahead of himself, because Cena might not be Champion at SummerSlam. Orton says he is not cashing in tonight, because he is not going to make the stupid mistake that Cena made last year. Orton says he came out to tell Cena that he will never see Randy’s cash-in coming. Fandango’s music hits and he comes to the ring with Summer Rae. Fandango says Orton won’t be cashing in against Cena, but he will be cashing in against Fandango. Fandango says the WWE Universe wants to see Cena defend the title against him. Fandango says his name and Orton decks him. The crowd boos Orton and cheers Fandango when he tosses Orton out of the ring. Maddox makes Fandango vs. Orton right now.

Match #1: Fandango (w/Summer Rae) vs. Randy Orton.
We’re back from commercial and Fandango is in control of Orton. Fandango picks Orton off the mat, but Orton comes back and tosses Fandango to the outside. Orton slams Fandango into the barricade and then into the ring apron. Orton delivers a back drop to Fandango on the barricade. Back in the ring, Fandango kicks Orton in the face. Fandango delivers a right hand and then applies a headlock as the crowd chants “Randy Savage!” Orton comes back with right hands to Fandango and the crowd chants “JBL!” Orton delivers a series of right hands in the corner and then delivers a dropkick. Orton goes for the cover, but Fandango kicks out at two. Orton stomps on Fandango’s hands, but Fandango connects with a kick to the back of Orton’s head that sends him to the floor. Fandango slams Orton into the steel steps and then does a little dance as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and Fandango is still in control. Fandango goes for a cover, but Orton kicks out at two. Orton goes for the back-breaker, but Fandango counters with a back drop. Fandango goes for a cover, but Orton kicks out at two. Orton clotheslines Fandango in the corner and then delivers a T-Bone Suplex. Orton sets Fandango on the top rope and then delivers a superplex. Orton drops Fandango with a couple clotheslines and a powerslam before setting up for the RKO. Fandango counters the RKO and slams him to the mat. Fandango goes up top, but Orton catches him. Orton delivers the middle-rope DDT from the corner and then hits the RKO for the pin fall.Winner: Randy Orton.

We see still-frames of what went down between Dolph Ziggler and AJ Lee last night during his match against Alberto Del Rio. We go backstage and we see Ziggler when AJ runs up to him. She apologizes, but he says it’s time to move on. She hugs and kisses him, but he says she doesn’t understand. Ziggler breaks up with her and walks away.

We see Mark Henry walking backstage. He will be in the ring after the commercial break.

We’re back from commercial, and Mark Henry is in the ring. Henry says Cena is definitely one of the greatest WWE Champions of all time. Henry says he thought Cena beating him was impossible and says he took Cena to the limit. Henry says he came this close to winning the WWE Championship, and the crowd chants “You Tapped Out!” He says he did, and every last one of them would, too. He says he’s not out here to make excuses or to apologize, and the crowd chants “Sexual Chocolate!” Henry says he knows Cena has the right to pick whoever he wants to face at SummerSlam, and he wants to be that guy. The Shield’s music hits and they converge on the ring. Henry attacks Reigns, but The Shield attacks. Henry fights back, but Ambrose locks in a Sleeper and Reigns downs him with a Spear. All three men attack Henry while he is down on the mat. They deliver the triple-powerbomb to Henry.

We see that Alberto Del Rio and Dolph Ziggler will go one-on-one after the commercial break.

We’re back from commercial, and Brad Maddox is on the phone with his mom when Chris Jericho walks up. Maddox makes a match between Jericho and Rob Van Dam for later tonight. Jericho says Maddox has a hell of a future ahead of him and walks away.

Match #2: Alberto Del Rio vs. Dolph Ziggler
Del Rio sends Ziggler off the ropes, but Ziggler comes back with a dropkick. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at one. Ziggler drops Del Rio with a neck-breaker, and then a series of elbow drops. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Del Rio comes back and stomps away on Ziggler. Del Rio places Ziggler on the top rope and then delivers a reverse suplex. Del Rio goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Ziggler comes back and clotheslines Del Rio in the corner and then delivers a forearm shiver. Ziggler goes after Del Rio, but Del Rio sends Ziggler to the floor and Ziggler takes a nasty bump as we head to a commercial.
We’re back and Del Rio is still in control of the match. Ziggler charges out of the corner and delivers a DDT to Del Rio. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Ziggler sends Del Rio off the ropes, but Del Rio clocks him with a right hand. Del Rio charges at Ziggler, but Ziggler moves and Del Rio gets caught up in the ropes. Del Rio gets back into the ring, but Ziggler delivers a dropkick. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two again. Del Rio grabs Ziggler and delivers a German suplex. Del Rio goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Del Rio delivers a series of headbutts to Ziggler down on the mat. Del Rio goes for the cross arm-breaker, but Ziggler counters with a neck-breaker. Ziggler goes for the cover, but Del Rio kicks out at two. Del Rio delivers an enzuiguri to Ziggler’s head and goes for the cover, but Ziggler kicks out at two. Del Rio places Ziggler in the tree of woe in the corner and delivers a series of kicks. Del Rio backs away and charges, but Ziggler moves and Del Rio goes shoulder-first into the corner. Ziggler delivers the Fame-Asser and goes for the cover, but the bell rings as Ziggler pins Del Rio. We see AJ Lee as the person who rang the bell, and Ziggler is distracted. Del Rio attacks Ziggler from behind and gets the pin fall.Winner: Alberto Del Rio.
After the match, AJ gets into the ring and slaps Ziggler repeatedly. Big E. Langston comes to the ring and lays Ziggler out. Langston delivers the Big Ending to Ziggler. AJ picks Ziggler up and kisses him before slamming his face into the mat.

We’re back from commercial, and we revisit earlier tonight when Brad Maddox told John Cena that he gets to pick his own opponent for SummerSlam.

R-Truth’s music hits and he raps his way to the ring. As he enters the ring, The Wyatt Family’s music hits and we hear, “We’re here.” Harper and Rowan attack Truth as Wyatt sits in the rocking chair on the stage. They toss Truth out of the ring and look at Wyatt. Wyatt rises from his chair and gets into the ring. Wyatt grabs a microphone. He says there is no such thing as a hero. He says we have become addicted to the vision of what a hero really is. Wyatt says everything is not alright. He says the man who made you is a liar and your own flesh and blood turned his back on you. Wyatt says he will never turn his back on you and just maybe he is the answer you’ve been looking for all along. Truth gets on the ring apron with a chair and says he wants Wyatt. Wyatt tells Truth to hit him. Wyatt gets Truth in the corner and beats him down. Harper and Rowan get back into the ring and join the beat down. Wyatt delivers a face-buster to Truth and tells him that he is not the truth they seek. He tells Kane to “Follow the Buzzards” as he drops the mic and the segment ends.

We poll for the WWE App is for The Real Americans opponents. The choices are The Usos, Tons of Funk, and The Prime Time Players. We head to a commercial break.

We’re back from commercial, and we see the video package for the WWE’s new Performance Center in Orlando, Florida.

Match #3: The Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger) (w/Zeb Colter) vs. The Usos
Cesaro and Jey start the match, but Jey makes a quick tag to Jimmy. Cesaro takes Jimmy and slams him to the mat. Cesaro tags in Swagger. Swagger delivers the Swagger Bomb to Jimmy. Swagger beats down Jimmy in the corner before the referee backs him away. Swagger tags in Cesaro, who stomps on Jimmy. Cesaro tosses Jimmy into the corner, but Jimmy delivers a right hand and then an elbow to Swagger. Jimmy tags in Jey, who delivers a cross-body to Cesaro and goes for the cover. Jimmy delivers a kick to Swagger, and Jey rolls up Cesaro for the pin fall.Winners: The Usos.

We are reminded that Rob Van Dam and Chris Jericho will go one-on-one later tonight as we head to a commercial break.

Match #4: Christian vs. Damien Sandow
Sandow goes to the outside and runs around the ring as Christian is in pursuit. Back in the ring, Sandow slams Christian to the mat and goes for the cover, but Christian kicks out at two. Christian comes back and delivers a DDT to Sandow and goes for the cover, but Sandow kicks out at two. Christian places Sandow on the middle rope and delivers a right hand. Christian goes up top and delivers a cross-body and goes for the cover, but Sandow kicks out at two. Christian decks Sandow with a right hand and delivers a spinning back elbow from the top rope. Christian goes for the Killswitch, but Sandow counters with a Side-Russian legsweep. Sandow goes for the Cobito Acquiet, but Christian reverses and scores a roll-up for the pin fall.Winner: Christian.
After the match, Sandow says he is still the Intellectual Savior of Money in the Bank, and Cody Rhodes attacks him. Sandow escapes and exits through the crowd as the crowd chants “Cody! Cody! Cody!”

We are reminded that John Cena gets to hand-pick his opponent for SummerSlam as we head to a commercial break.

We’re back from commercial and we see an advertisement for 1-800-FELLA.

We then see footage from earlier today of Vickie Guerrero trying to stage a rally to get her involved with tonight’s Raw broadcast.

Match #5: Brie Bella (w/Nikki Bella) vs. Naomi (w/Cameron)
Brie slams Naomi to the mat, but Naomi fights back and flips Brie down to the mat. Naomi goes for the cover, but Brie kicks out at two. Brie goes to the outside and trips Naomi up on the apron. Back in the ring, Brie goes for the cover, but Naomi kicks out at two. Brie applies a submission on Naomi in the ropes and then goes for a cover, but Naomi kicks out at two. Brie wrenches Naomi’s head in the middle of the ring, but Naomi fights out and sunset flips Brie down for a two count. Brie comes back and takes Naomi down with a clothesline. Naomi comes back and delivers a cross-body from the top and gets the pin fall.Winner: Naomi.

We take a look at a WWE.com Exclusive, where someone is trying to get some words with Paul Heyman after he turned his back on CM Punk. Heyman tells the guy to stay out of his personal life before leaving the arena.

We’re back from commercial, and CM Punk’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring. He says he knows Paul Heyman and Brock Lesnar are in the building. He says he’s not waiting anymore and calls them out. Heyman comes to the stage and says he sees an empty ring because Punk doesn’t exist in his world. Heyman says in 2005, WWE had no vision for Punk and Punk was a figment of Heyman’s imagination. Heyman says he befriended Punk, taught him, trained him, and martyred his entire career for him. Heyman says they reached the holy grail. Heyman says they were the reigning, defending WWE Champion, they were the best in the world. Heyman says Punk is not the best in the world. Heyman says everyone is asking him why he betrayed Punk. Heyman says he will tell the truth and the truth is that Punk failed when he couldn’t defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania and when he went home. Heyman says Punk thought he was better than him, and so he had to lie to Punk. Heyman says history will read ‘Paul Heyman dumped CM Punk,’ and Heyman had to make it as personal as possible. Heyman says Punk has no mother, no father, no wife, and no children, all he has the WWE Universe. Heyman says all Punk needs is the WWE Championship. Heyman says Punk took his best friend away from him, so he took Punk’s chance at the WWE Championship away from him. Heyman says as bad as his business reputation is, he is worse personally. Heyman says the kicker is that Punk made him swear on his children, but his children showed him the light. Heyman says if Punk wants the truth, the truth is that he betrayed him because Punk can’t beat Brock Lesnar. Punk says he should have seen in coming, but he trusted Heyman. Punk says Heyman knows better than anybody, and he won’t stop until he gets what he wants. Punk says he is going to get Heyman. Punk says he swears on Heyman’s children that will get Heyman and all of his associates. Punk says he doesn’t care who he has to rip apart and hurt to get to Heyman, because he will do it. Punk says Heyman doesn’t have a future, because he is going to burn everything down around him and then keep him alive just long enough to feel his wrath. Punk calls Heyman a son of a bitch and asks him if he’s lying. Heyman says Punk is not lying and he wants to spell Punk’s immediate future for him. Heyman says “It’s clobbering time!” and Lesnar’s music hits. Lesnar distracts Punk and Heyman takes out Punk’s knee. Punk and Lesnar brawl on the outside. Lesnar slams Punk into the steel steps, but Punk fights back before Lesnar tosses him over the announce table. Punk comes right back, but Lesnar drives him into the ring post. Lesnar delivers an F-5 to Punk on the announce table. Lesnar and Heyman stand tall over Punk as Heyman yells at Punk to stay out of his life. As Heyman and Lesnar leave, Punk gets to his feet unassisted, but then collapses back down while grabbing his neck as we head to commercial.

We’re back from commercial and we see a recap of what just happened between Paul Heyman, Brock Lesnar, and CM Punk. We then see a preview for Total Divas. Finally, we see The Great Khali pleading his case to John Cena for a shot at the WWE Championship at SummerSlam.

We go into Brad Maddox’s office and we see Stehpanie McMahon. She says he’s doing a great job, but then Triple H walks up. Triple H says he’s done a good job, but the night isn’t over. Triple H says he wonders if Vince McMahon would like it if John Cena picks who they think he is going to pick. They get Brad all worried and then Triple H wishes him good luck in his future endeavors as they leave.

Match #6: Chris Jericho vs. Rob Van Dam
Jericho goes behind RVD, but RVD counters with takes Jericho down to the mat. Jericho sends RVD off the ropes, but RVD takes him down with a shoulder block. RVD comes off the ropes again, but Jericho takes him down with a dropkick. RVD comes back and takes Jericho to the corner. RVD drives his shoulder into Jericho’s midsection. RVD takes Jericho to the center of the ring and connects with a standing moonsault. RVD goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Jericho comes back and delivers an enzuiguri to RVD and goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Jericho keeps RVD down on the mat and delivers a stiff kick as we head to a commercial break.
We’re back and RVD is in control of the match. Jericho comes back and goes for the Walls of Jericho, but he can’t lock it in and slings RVD into the corner and RVD goes head-first into the turnbuckle. Jericho goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Jericho tries to suplex RVD in from the apron, but RVD counters and kicks Jericho in the face. RVD goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Jericho comes back and slams RVD down to the mat and goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Jericho goes to the outside, but RVD connects with a moonsault from the apron as we head to another commercial.
We’re back and Jericho is working over RVD down on the mat. RVD takes Jericho to the corner and delivers a spin kick to the chest. RVD comes off the ropes, but Jericho takes him down with a shoulder block. Jericho slams RVD down to the mat and then delivers a bulldog. Jericho goes for the Lionsault but RVD rolls out of the way. RVD connects with Rolling Thunder and goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. Jericho drops RVD with a DDT and goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. Jericho goes for the Walls, but RVD powers out. RVD kicks Jericho in the head and then shoves him into the corner chest-first. RVD goes to smash Jericho in the corner, but Jericho moves and Jericho connects with the Lionsault. Jericho goes for the cover, but RVD kicks out at two. RVD comes back and goes up top for the Five-Star, but Jericho knocks him down. Jericho gets on the ropes with RVD, but RVD headbutts him down and connects with the Five-Star. RVD goes for the cover, but Jericho kicks out at two. RVD goes for a head-scissors takedown, but Jericho catches him and locks in the Walls. RVD gets to the ropes to break the hold. RVD heel kicks Jericho in the face and goes up top. RVD delivers the Five-Star Frogsplash and gets the pin fall.Winner: Rob Van Dam.

John Cena will hand-pick his opponent for SummerSlam after the commercial break.

We’re back from commercial, and we see that Paul Heyman will be a guest on MizTV on this Friday’s Smackdown. We then see the Superstars waiting on the stage for John Cena to arrive. JBL points out that CM Punk and Mark Henry are missing. Cena’s music hits and he makes his way to the ring.

Cena says he hasn’t made his decision yet. He says he has listen to superstar after superstar pitch themselves to him all night. Cena says he has left out the most important voice in his decision: the voice of the WWE Universe. Cena says he needs the help of the WWE Universe to make his decision. He asks about Heath Slater, and the crowd boos. He asks about Randy Orton, and the crowd boos again. He asks about The Great Khali, and they boo again. He asks about Alberto Del Rio, and they boo once more. Chris Jericho? Nope. Rob Van Dam? The crowd cheers, but nope. He asks about Fandango, and the crowd isn’t receptive of him like they were at the beginning. Sheamus? Nope, nothing but boos. Ryback? Nope. He asks if he missed anyone, and the crowd chants “YES! YES! YES!” Cena says he has made his decision, and the crowd chants “Daniel Bryan!” Cena says he respects The Beard, and he thinks his opponent will make SummerSlam special. Cena calmly selects Daniel Bryan. Bryan’s music hits and he comes to the ring and leads the crowd in a “YES!” chants as Raw comes to a close.

I only saw Raw towards the end, but I saw the second half of the RVD/Jericho match and Cena’s selection. If the half of RVD/Y2J was any indicator of how good the overall match was, that might be the best match I’ve seen (normally don’t get to catch Raw very often) on Raw in awhile. As for creative following up and capitalizing on how over Bryan is, I’m glad they at the very least booked the match. Who knows if they’ll actually let him win and take the strap, but kudos to them for at least giving the fans what they want.